California Buckeye tree; Seattle's largest at the Carl English Gardens at the Ballard Locks; mid-July full bloom.
(Courtesy of Arthur Lee Jacobson / <a href=’ http://www.arthurleej.com/tos2.html‘>‘Trees of Seattle’</a>) less

California Buckeye tree; Seattle's largest at the Carl English Gardens at the Ballard Locks; mid-July full bloom.
(Courtesy of Arthur Lee Jacobson / <a href=’ http://www.arthurleej.com/tos2.html‘>‘Trees ... more

Image 5 of 18

Coast Redwood over 100 years old, now 174 feet tall, in a grove in Interlaken Park (between Montlake and Capitol Hill).
(Courtesy of Arthur Lee Jacobson / <a href=’ http://www.arthurleej.com/tos2.html‘>‘Trees of Seattle’</a>) less

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image 15 of 18

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image 16 of 18

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image 17 of 18

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image from the interactive map “<a href=’http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/’>Seattle Street Trees</a>” put together by Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

Image 18 of 18

Gallery: The great trees of Seattle

1 / 18

Back to Gallery

They’re everywhere, and sometimes you’re just caught by the majesty of the darn things, shimmering in the sunlight, towering overhead and sheltering you from the rain.

Seattle, The Emerald City (after all), has many great trees and each neighborhood has a few trees that really stand out. Those are the “heritage trees” of that hood. (You can see where those are in the gallery above and here.)

“They’re either huge or significant or the best example of a species in the city,” said Nolan Rundquist, city arborist for the Seattle Department of Transportation. “Generally, it’s a big tree that stands out in a neighborhood or the most significant tree in a neighborhood.”

“Sitting on a narrow strip of land between bodies of salt and fresh water, Seattle has water recreation aplenty, but you can also find an old-growth forest, a former crude oil plant location turned into a park, a sandy beach park and a lake that serves as a natural preserve for hundreds of species of trees, plants, birds and waterfowl — all within the city limits,” American Forests wrote.

(You can check out a gallery of the cities on the list and the attributes of our forests that got us on the list.)

‘Trees of Seattle’

Rundquist also told that if we were interested in the great trees of Seattle, we should talk to the guy who wrote the book on ’em: Native Seattleite and arborist Arthur Lee Jacobson.

So we did, and Jacobson shared with us a few of the standout trees of Seattle included in his book “Trees of Seattle.” You can see the trees he shared with us in the gallery above.

We asked via email: “What attracted you to trees and your work documenting and writing about the ones in Seattle?”

Here’s what he said:

A lifelong Seattle resident, when 17 I grew interested in learning about trees. My awareness of nature had been at a relatively normal level until high school. As an 8th grade student, nature was wholly unappealing to me; I liked sports, music, comic books, stamp collecting, and whatnot. Trees were trees, grass was grass, flowers were flowers and weeds were weeds.

But by the time I was in 10th grade, and especially 11th grade, I had been affected profoundly by nature awareness. I went from a normal worldview to one wherein the value of being aware of and appreciative of nature was a centerpiece. In retrospect, this keen passion was the pivotal transformation of my life.

By 1981, I measured Seattle trees notable for large size, and thought about a Seattle tree book – since I always loved reading and writing.

I began leading tree tours. By 1983, I had a list of Seattle trees that was the beginning of the ‘Trees of Seattle’ book that finally was printed in 1990. Updating that book for its 2006 2nd edition … Seattle is a large city, with maximum tree diversity, and trying to record it fully in a book, was daunting.

P.S.: We’d love to see photos of the trees you love – so send us some! We’ll make a gallery of them and share them here on the Big Blog. Just email me a photo, photo credit and a general whereabouts of the tree.

Photo: American Forests

Image 1of/21

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 21

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> worked with a panel of urban forest experts from a broad range of scientific and urban resources disciplines to identify the best urban forests from the 50 most populous U.S. cities.
Here's the criteria they used:
• The degree to which there is strong civic engagement between the city, nonprofits, community groups and individuals in maintaining the urban forest.
• The degree to which the city has developed and implemented urban forest strategies to address issues and challenges such as energy conservation, stormwater and recreation.
• The accessibility of urban forest and greenspaces to the public, including percentage of park land per capita.
• The overall health and condition of the city’s urban forest.
• Each city’s documented knowledge of its tree canopy, tree species diversity and age class range.
• The status of urban forest management plans and other important management activities, such as tree canopy goals and ordinances. less

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> worked with a panel of urban forest experts from a broad range of scientific and urban ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 2 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
With 300 days of sunshine a year, an average temperature of 68 degrees, a 10-mile off-road trail in the heart of the city, a three-acre natural spring-fed swimming hole and live bats that draw tourists by emerging at sundown each day from the Congress Street Bridge, it’s no surprise that Austin also ranks as one of the 10 best urban forests in the country. While it’s aided by its natural environment, Austin’s urban forest success is related to its number of comprehensive plans, strong relationships between nonprofits and government agencies and tree ordinances that cover trees on both public and private land.
About 18 percent of Austin is parkland — a whopping 36 acres of park per 1,000 people — and its tree canopy is a diverse, healthy 30 percent with its street trees comprising nearly 100 different species. In 2012, Austin initiated its first Urban Forest Management Plan and will review it on a five-year cycle in hopes of keeping a strong, healthy and abundant urban forest in the years to come. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
With 300 days of sunshine a year, an average temperature of 68 degrees, a ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 3 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Mecklenburg County, in which Charlotte sits at the heart, was awarded the National Gold Medal Award in 2012 by the National Recreation and Park Association. Charlotte itself boasts a number of recreation attractions, such as the U.S. National Whitewater Center and the literature-themed “pocket” park known as The Green. And these are just a few of the things making up Charlotte’s urban forest.
Over the years, Charlotte’s urban forest has flourished under strong comprehensive management plans, as well as tree ordinances designed to protect both public and private trees. A public-private initiative, TreesCharlotte, has involved nonprofits, government and communities to plant trees on private property, which is important since it’s estimated that the aesthetic value of Charlotte’s urban trees, impacting things like property values, provides the city with $2.76 million in benefits. In addition, Charlotte’s trees provide more than $900,000 in energy savings annually and $2.1 million in stormwater controls. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Mecklenburg County, in which Charlotte sits at the heart, was awarded the ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 4 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Like Austin, the Mile High City receives 300 days of sunshine a year, but it also receives very little rain, making growing conditions less than ideal and its urban forest success even more impressive. For instance, the Denver Botanic Gardens contains more than 32,000 species of plants, and the City Park Arboretum alone hosts more than 3,000 trees, representing hundreds of species.
Denver has set out to maintain a healthy urban forest in a number of ways, including requiring developers to diversify tree species during plantings, keeping records of the age distribution of the canopy and enforcing tree ordinances. The city has developed city-wide planting and canopy goals and is working to promote stewardship of the forest through nonprofit tree planting partnerships. Denver estimates that $18 million in net income related to tourism can be attributed to its park system, which has increased health benefits, lowered medical costs and improved physical activity to the tune of $65 million. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Like Austin, the Mile High City receives 300 days of sunshine a year, but ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 5 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Sitting on the shore of Lake Michigan and at the confluence of three rivers, Milwaukee’s terrain was shaped by another geophysical phenomenon: glaciers, which left behind steep bluffs and a surrounding region full of inland lakes. Home to Wisconsin’s only urban state park, Lakeshore State Park, residents also enjoy outdoor musical festivals and a 40-acre sculpture garden with more than 50 pieces of art placed across the park, around the lake and in the woodland.
Milwaukee has a long history of urban forestry. Past struggles with Dutch elm disease and current ones with emerald ash borer (EAB) have led the city to implement diversification plans, as well as develop comprehensive inventories of its trees. With the exception of the city’s ash trees, which are battling the ravages of EAB, the city’s street trees are in excellent condition. Milwaukee has 25 acres of park per 1,000 residents. Its urban forest provides $15 million in stormwater savings and removes 496 tons of pollution annually — a value estimated at $2.59 million. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Sitting on the shore of Lake Michigan and at the confluence of three ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 6 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Named the “Fittest City in America” by the American Fitness Index and one of the “World’s Cleanest Cities” by MSN, Minneapolis can now add the credential of having one of the top urban forests. The City of Lakes is home to an abundance of varied parkland — a park every six blocks — including those designed for off-road cycling and those for hiking, canoeing and swimming.
Minneapolis’ tree canopy of 31 percent is only 6.5 percent shy of its potential canopy of 37.5 percent based on geographic information system (GIS) analysis and modeling. Minneapolis was actually one of the first cities to use the U.S. Forest Service’s iTree assessment tool to determine the benefits of its urban forest. Today, it’s estimated that the city’s urban forest has a structural value of $756 million and also reduces energy use by $216,000 per year. This reduction in energy usage reduces carbon emissions at an estimated value of $16,000. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Named the “Fittest City in America” by the American Fitness Index and ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 7 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
New York is home to one of the most well-known urban parks in the world, but with more than eight million people sharing just 300 square miles of land, it is surprising that a significant chunk of the city, 19.5 percent, is parkland and there is an average of five trees per acre for a canopy of 21 percent.
New York’s urban forestry program is based on a series of comprehensive plans, including several that focus on wetlands and green infrastructure. The mayor has set a goal of planting one million new trees by 2017, which is being achieved through extensive public and community outreach and partnership. Currently, New York’s urban forest stores 1.35 million tons of carbon at a value of $24.9 million and removes more than 2,000 tons of pollution each year for $10.6 million in value. And, while these figures are impressive, it’s estimated that the potential canopy in New York is 43 percent, which would be achieved by removing some of the city’s impervious surface. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
New York is home to one of the most well-known urban parks in the world, ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 8 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
From turning a downtown parking lot into an urban park and a former freeway into a riverfront park to maintaining a 5,000-plus-acre park with 70 miles of trails and an arboretum with nearly 1,000 species of trees and shrubs, Portland is a paradise for bikers, runners, yoga aficionados and wildlife alike. And unlike most cities in the country, its urban tree canopy has been increasing over the last few years.
Goals for the city’s canopy are actually built into multiple management plans, and the improvements the city is seeing are related to the work of a dedicated government, nonprofits and community groups. Meanwhile, the city is using green infrastructure as a cost-effective alternative to gray infrastructure and is protecting its trees through public and private ordinances and a diversification strategy. Portland estimates that its street trees alone have added more than $13 million in property resale value, and its entire urban forest provides more than $38 million in environmental benefits. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
From turning a downtown parking lot into an urban park and a former ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 9 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Sacramento lays claim to the “World’s Oldest Triathlon,” Eppie’s Great Race, with the twist of kayaking instead of swimming; numerous outdoor theater and concert opportunities; a 33-mile bike trail that accompanies the American River from downtown to Folsom and beyond; and the picturesque Capitol Park surrounding California’s State Capitol, which features 450 varieties of trees and flowering shrubs.
Similar to Denver, Sacramento’s geography and climate are not well suited for most trees, but yet, Sacramento has become known as the City of Trees. The state capital recently completed a best management practices study and experiences strong partnerships between the government, nonprofits and utilities in the area. Sacramento has a strong volunteer base, as thousands of individuals volunteer thousands of hours of work each year, resulting in a labor equivalent of more than $100,000 for the city’s urban forest. Each year, one of the city’s electric utilities and a nonprofit partner to plant 13,000 trees on private property that will provide shade to homes and reduce energy demand. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
The famous Monument Core — the National Mall and its monuments and memorials — in the heart of our nation’s capital is home to 17,000 trees. The District also houses the nation’s first urban park, Rock Creek Park, as part of its more than 7,000 acres of parkland and has two major rivers within its city limits.
Through a combination of city and federal staff, nonprofits and citizens, the District of Columbia has developed a healthy 35 percent tree canopy and a wide range of greening initiatives, including environmental justice work and green jobs training. The mayor announced a new sustainability initiative in 2011, and the city tries to review its urban forest management plan every two years in an effort to reach its urban forestry goals. D.C.’s trees provide $3.6 billion in structural value to the city, and the $2.6 million they save in energy costs each year reduce carbon emissions by $96,000 per year. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
The famous Monument Core — the National Mall and its monuments and ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 11 of 21

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Sitting on a narrow strip of land between bodies of salt and fresh water, Seattle has water recreation aplenty, but you can also find an old-growth forest, a former crude oil plant location turned into a park, a sandy beach park and a lake that serves as a natural preserve for hundreds of species of trees, plants, birds and waterfowl — all within the city limits.
Seattle recently completed an iTree analysis and Interactive Habitat Map, designed to let urban forestry team members know not only where trees can be planted, but also what kind of species would be most desirable. The city’s nonprofits are also improving the city’s urban forest and are adapting training models and systems that can be embraced by other cities in the region, across the country and around the world. Seattle’s 4.35 million trees are estimated to be worth about $4.9 billion, contributing to $5.9 million in energy savings and storing two million tons of carbon. less

What <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a> said:
Sitting on a narrow strip of land between bodies of salt and fresh water, ... more

Photo: American Forests

Image 12 of 21

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
There are approximately 4.35 million trees in Seattle. less

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
There are approximately 4.35 million trees in ... more

Photo: UIG via Getty Images

Image 13 of 21

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
Researchers have identified 192 tree species in Seattle, 28 of which are native to the Puget Sound region. less

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
Researchers have identified 192 tree species in Seattle, 28 of ... more

Photo: Adam Foster/Flickr

Image 14 of 21

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
The replacement value of Seattle’s urban forest is estimated at $4.9 billion. less

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
The most common tree species are red alder, big leaf maple and beaked hazelnut, which are all native species. less

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
The most common tree species are red alder, big leaf maple and ... more

Photo: Mike Kolitz/Flickr

Image 16 of 21

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
Seattle’s trees store two million metric tons of carbon. less

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
Seattle’s trees store two million metric tons of ... more

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
Seattle trees reduce building energy use by $5.9 million annually. less

<a href="http://www.americanforests.org/our-programs/urbanforests/10-best-cities-for-urban-forests/">American Forests</a>' stats for Seattle:
Seattle trees reduce building energy use by $5.9 million ... more